This book was really not for me. It was not the thriller I expected. It did have a bit of mystery and a few twists. I found Bree’s obsession a bit over the top and unrealistic . Thanks to NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this book.

#bookreview - As someone who frequently reads thrillers, I can usually detect when a twist or turn is coming, but this book honestly gave me two huge surprises that I didn’t see coming. And the ending? Whoa!!

I read Pretty Revenge last summer and thoroughly enjoyed it. Emily Lieberman has a knack for clever dialogue (the back and forth between mother and daughter in this book is so clever). I received Perfectly Famous from @Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The book begins with Ward, a famous author in the midst of one of her latest book signings. As the crowd begins to disperse, Ward receives the stunning news that her daughter is missing. Fast forward 6 months and Ward has virtually dropped off the face of the earth - going deep into hiding to mourn the death of her beloved daughter, Stevie.

Bree is a recently divorced investigative journalist with a teenage daughter full of angst. Trying to recover her high-flying career, Bree accepts a job at the local newspaper and convinces her boss to allow her to research and write a piece on the disappearance of much-loved author, Ward. No one knows where Ward is hiding and Bree is convinced she can find her and write her story,

As Bree begins to sink her teeth into the research, she discovers things aren’t exactly what they seems. Switching between perspectives from both Bree and Ward’s points of view, you get a unique story, with a pinch of romance, and a reminder of the difficulties of teenage parenting (yikes).

I really enjoyed this story and highly recommend picking it up this summer! Release date June 2, 2020 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Sooo... I stayed up late to read the last 15% of this book, because the story was incredible! I was completely caught up in the character’s lives and the whole story just moved forward with complete ease.

Bree’s mom was one of the best character’s I’ve read in a long time. She was humorous and just completely so ridiculous. I loved it. The descriptions of all the food made me drool (man, I love food). Not to mention, the whole backdrop of the story (Stevie’s murder) was heartbreaking and a story in and of itself.

This book was well on the way to a five-star review.

But... and I don’t say this lightly... what the hell was that ending!?!? Like, no explanation whatsoever. Nothing. And there’s a HUGE question that is never answered - and I kept waiting for the answer the whole time! I. Am. So. Annoyed.

There better be a part 2.

Perfectly Famous by Emily Liebert is about two women. Ward is a famous thriller author whose 15 year old daughter gets abducted and murdered. Bree is a recently divorced mom and fan of Ward. She is determined to find out what happened to Ward’s daughter and where Ward went after her daughter died. This book was not as much of a thriller as I thought it would be. It was an interesting read though. I will probably check out the author’s other books. Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read Perfectly Famous. I enjoyed the story but didn't really understand either of the main player's motivations. Ward DeFleur is a famous writer who has disappeared after the kidnapping and murder of her beloved daughter. Bree Bennett is a divorcee who was a big fan of Ward who treated her kindly at her last book signing when Ward was given the news about her daughter and was never heard from again. Bree is a bit bored at home and decides to try writing for a local newspaper and her first article will be on Ward DeFleur, who she hopes to find and interview. There are a lot of weird characters in the telling of the story, and I didn't much like the ending of the story. Still a fun read.

Perfectly Famous by Emily Liebert is a story of famous author Wade DeFleur and unknown journalist Bree Bennett. It’s the night of Wade’s book signing, Bree goes to see her favorite author and has a bit of a breakdown because of her own life that’s falling apart. Wade comforts Bree, and Bree never forgets that moment. Later that night, Wade receives devastating news that her teenage daughter has gone missing. Wade’s perfect life is shattered as it turns out her daughter was brutally murdered. Consumed by grief, Wade goes into hiding and believes she will never be able to write again.

As Bree tries to find meaning of her new divorced life, she takes a job writing for the town newspaper. Bree has this idea she wants to write a true crime series for the newspaper, what better topic than missing local author Wade DeFleur? As Bree begins her quest to find Wade, she is met with questionable family members from Wade’s life, secrets that were never meant to found out, and the danger of coming too close to answers as to who killed Wade’s daughter and why. Is Bree’s infatuation with finding Wade worth risking her own life?

This book was interesting. It was a little quirky, told on both Bree and Wade’s point of view. The reader can feel the fear Wade is dealing with, but Bree’s intentions are a little questionable. I could never figure out why Bree was so infatuated with Wade and her whereabouts. I will say, my favorite character was Bree’s mother, that woman stole the show! She was a pip that certainly kept the book entertaining. Although it was a tiny bit predictable, I’m still confused by the ending. The last few pages came out of nowhere, unless there is going to be a book two in a series, although I’m still not sure where the story could go from there. I thought the book had potential, but the ending left me with a WTH moment.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Gallery Books for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A few chapters into this book I realized it was not at all what I expected. I was anticipating a thriller, a hunt for Ward’s missing daughter and a crime writer who would somehow help Ward come out of isolation and find the killer, and get back to her love of writing after a tragic loss.

What I got was a book about a pushy, recently divorced mother, Bree, who’s having a tough time raising her annoying and rebellious teenage daughter, and getting back on the dating scene. We also get a glimpse into Ward’s world, hiding in plain sight 6 months after her daughter’s tragic death.

There’s no mystery or thrills. I wasn’t at all sold on the idea of Bree obsessively hunting down a woman she doesn’t personally know and who clearly didn’t want to be found. Like, who are you? The ending was predictable. The characters were pretty one-dimensional and the story just didn’t mesh well for me.

The ending was questionable, and leaves the impression that there will be a part 2.

2/5 ⭐️

Ward DeFleur is a famous author and a mother. While she is on a book tour, her daughter is murdered. Ward goes into seclusion. Her daughter's murderer is still on the loose. Bree Bennett is at Ward's last book signing. She decides to write a true crime newspaper series devoted to Ward and her daughter. Meanwhile she becomes obsessed with Ward. This book is a really good thriller with many twists. This book is told by Ward and Bree so the reader gets both sides which I really enjoyed. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

A twisty, unpredictable, and utterly tantalizing novel about obsession and betrayal, whose plot is strewn with landmines of surprise. But be prepared for fierce debates with other readers about the success (or failure) of that ending....

Thank you to Netgalley, Gallery Books and the Author Emily Liebert for an ARC of this book in exchange or an honest review.
WoW for a book that started off a little slow for me, became a can't stop reading page turner.
Loads of twists and turns and one big *gasp* that's all I'm going to say. I will definitely be following and reading more from this author.

This book didn't quite do it for me. I was perfectly happy with the way it ended, and then the epilogue went and ruined it. The story was interesting and held my intrigue, but I found myself very frustrated with Bree's character. I didn't buy the never ending interest that Bree had with Ward and her story. I also didn't get the hatred that Chloe felt for Bree. It seemed like it came from nowhere? A few of the twists I hadn't figured out, but some were predictable to me. Not that that makes a great book, but it certainly adds to it. For these reasons, I gave this book 3/5 stars. The story line was good and had promise, but it let me down.

I was so excited when I saw that I was going to get the ARC for this. This book did NOT disappoint at all. it had me turning pages so quickly wanting to find out what happened. Ward is a writer and at a book signing she meets Bree, who is reeling from a divorce. When Bree starts crying Ward comforts her and they both remembered that moments. At then end of the book signing Ward receives the most devastating news a parent can receive, that her daughter has been attacked. The story revolves around Bree trying to find Ward to write her story...the twist and turns in the book had me guessing and not wanting to put the book down. The ending was not at all what I expected and was shocking. I highly recommend this book. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Perfectly Famous
by: Emily Liebert
Pub. Date: July 8, 2020

I have to say for most of this book, I really enjoyed it. It was an easy read, there was a good amount of mystery that kept me interested BUT….what the hell happened at the end? I usually can find plenty to compliment about a book BUT this one just pissed me off. There was potential for this story to be a good one. I accepted that the twist wasn’t that twisty…but hoped that the character development and relationships would carry it through, ultimately it just felt lacking. The protagonist Bree made some really poor choices and didn’t come off as a writer or investigative journalist at all. She should have been picking up on things that she just missed because the guy was too pretty? Ummmmm, no. Also the chapter that ended with…”and everything faded to black,” felt like a soap opera or Lifetime Movie Network transition, not a novel. The last line….Alex, wearing an evil grin was cheap, not an ending worthy of the first half of the book at all. I really feel like those chapters were rushed, maybe the author didn’t want to finish the scene, I don’t know but it wasn’t for me.

Overall this was a 2 star read for me. It could have been so much better but the development of the plot, twists, and characters was sorely lacking.

Thank you @Netgalley and @GalleryBooks for an advanced copy of the book for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book but found Bree’s obsession with telling Ward’s story a little random. I enjoyed the twist and was surprised at the ending.

Oo with a cover and title like that how could you not read it!! Definitely take a chance on this one because I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

This was an excellent novel that kept me literally entranced. The character depiction was on point and the story was fascinating and well developed.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this amazing book from Gallery Books. The story begins with getting to know the main character, Ward, and how she meets Bree Bennett. It moves swiftly from there into a mystery searching fir the truth about Ward & her life. The ending will leave you speechless. I’m very pleased to be able to offer this review of an outstanding book.

II am a huge fan of Emily Liebert ! Very happy to have been approved for an early copy of her upcoming book. Loved it ! Very different ! Keeps you guessing the whole way through ! 2 woman who's lives come together quite innocently at a book signing and then both of their worlds explode. How will it end ? Well you have to read to find out ! I was certainly shocked by the ending !

This book sucked me in. I couldn’t put it down, which was pretty great for this whole world quarantine thing! I loved the back and forth chapters between Ward and Bree and it was wonderful to see the characters develop as the story went on. I felt like I really knew them! What kept me from giving it five stars, was the ending. It blew my mind, but not in a good way! The ending left everything completely messed up and unfinished in my mind. What now? It’s too big of a cliffhanger and I just can’t wrap my brain around it.

To me, there's nothing more disappointing than when a thriller with tremendous potential veers off course into utter soap opera melodrama. That's what happened with Emily Liebert's upcoming book, Perfectly Famous. I was on the edge of my seat for a while, then I started to suspect what I thought would happen, and then...darn it. But is a book that gives you a good ride almost the whole way still worth a read? I think so.

Ward DeFleur is a best-selling author and a household name. Her books have been made into movies and become instant hits. Her fans are eagerly anticipating her 15-stop book tour for her latest release, and although Ward is a little bit nervous, she's determined that nothing is going to go wrong, and the tour will be a surefire success.

And then, the night of her first book signing, something goes very wrong—her teenage daughter, Stevie, is found brutally beaten (she was supposed to be spending the night at a friend's house) and ultimately, succumbs to her injuries. Ward is devastated, unable to get past this tragedy, and retreats from the world, cutting off contact with her agent and publisher and everyone else.

Bree attended Ward's book signing the night Stevie was assaulted. Having a hard time dealing with the end of her marriage and her teenage daughter's increasingly hostile attitude, she broke down in tears at the signing and Ward comforted her. Now, as she tries to build a new life for herself, she begins writing for the local newspaper, and decides what she'd like to do is tell Ward's story.

The challenge is, Ward isn't interested in being found. But Bree is resourceful, almost obsessive in her desire to track Ward down. Even as people warn her that Ward may not want her to tell her story, or even try to locate her, Bree feels this is her chance to prove something to herself again. The deeper she digs, the more danger she puts herself in, because Stevie's killer is still out there...and doesn't want Bree in the way.

Liebert really ratchets up the tension through the start of the book. And although some tired subplots threaten to derail the suspense, the story is pretty fascinating and I couldn't put it down...until things started getting tied up and all I wanted was to put the book down. This is the first of Liebert's books I've read so I don't know if this is something that happens often in her books or if this is just a fluke, but I was really disappointed.

NetGalley and Gallery Books provided an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!

Perfectly Famous publishes June 2.